Hubli, February 28: As India gears up for a high-stakes showdown against West Indies in the T20 World Cup 2026 Super-8 stage, BCCI Secretary Devjit Saikia has urged the team to channel the inspiring triumph of Jammu & Kashmir in the Ranji Trophy. Led by captain Suryakumar Yadav, the Indian squad will take on the two-time champions at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens on Sunday, in what could be a make-or-break encounter for semifinal qualification.
Jammu & Kashmir scripted history on Saturday at the Hubli Cricket Ground, clinching their maiden Ranji Trophy title by defeating eight-time champions Karnataka. Relying on a substantial first-innings lead, the underdogs proved that belief can topple giants. Saikia sees parallels with India’s current predicament and believes his team can replicate this feat.
Speaking exclusively, Saikia emphasized, ‘Sunday is a massive day for the nation. Jammu & Kashmir’s victory over a powerhouse like Karnataka on their home turf sends a clear message: in cricket, anything is possible. Our players face a semifinal-like battle against West Indies in Kolkata. They will deliver their best to make the country proud.’
The winner of this India-West Indies clash advances directly to the semifinals. India bounced back strongly on Thursday, demolishing Zimbabwe by 72 runs. Abhishek Sharma smashed 55 off 30 balls, Hardik Pandya remained unbeaten on 50 off 23, and Tilak Varma blazed 44 off 16. Batting first, India posted a record-breaking 256/4 in 20 overs—the highest T20 World Cup total by the Men in Blue.
Zimbabwe faltered in the chase, managing only 184/6. This win followed an earlier Super-8 loss to South Africa by 76 runs. With momentum on their side and J&K’s story as motivation, India eyes a dominant performance to seal their spot in the final four.